Spring-vehicle



W. JOHNSTON. 7

SPRING VEHIGLE- Patentd Nov. 2,1886.

mil P v ""IIHM, "Mr

UNITED STATES PATENT rrlcn.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON, or MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN.

SPFlNG-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent: No. 351,775, dated November 2, 1886.

Application filed June 29,1886. Serial No. 206,630. (No model.)

' following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring-vehicles; and it has for its object to equalize the effect of the load upon the springs, so that the vehicle-body shall-remain at all times parallel with the axles and running-gear.

My invention consists in a guiderbar suitably mounted upon the running gear and working through the body, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buggy with my improvements applied, the near side'of the vehicle-body being partially broken away to more clearly expose the parts. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a modified form'of my invention applied to aspringvehicle, thebody of the latter being shown in skeleton form. Fig. 4is a'detached longitudinal section on the line x :20, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detached transverse section on the line y y, Fig. 2;

Vehicles of all kinds, particularly lightpassenger vehiclessnch as buggies, &c.are defective in construction, because, if there be a heavier load on one side than on the other, the spring or springs which directly sustain the heavier load will be much more compressed than the other'springs, and hence the body of the Nehicle will be tilted sidewise, causing the occupants much discomfort and greatly straining thevehicle. By virtue of my invention the vehicle-body always remains level with the axles and running-gear, notwithstanding unequal distribution of the load.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the vehicle-body; B B, the springs, and

O, the running-gear. As illustrated, the springs E, and the springs a e clipped to the front and hind axles outside of the outer bars; E.

Upon the bottom of the vehiele-body, in Fig. 1, is a shaft, F, extending transversely of the body and embraced at its ends by straps 9. Upon the extremities of this shaft is mounted a gear-pinion,f.

H designates a rack-bar, which is secured to the outer sides ofthe two outside barsE by a rod, E, extending transversely of the frame. Each rack-bar Hextcnds upward through apertures in the bottom on one side of the pinions f, so

that the teeth of said pinions mesh with the teeth on the side of the i'ackbar.

In Fig. Zaslight modification is shown, there being two shafts, F,with two pinions,f,on each side of the buggy-botton1,and the racks H being double, having teeth on both sides,and located in the space between the pinions ofeach otherwise, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I do not wishto belimitcd to the use of rackbars, as plain guide-bars maybe employed secured in the same manner as the rack-bars, and work through the body between suitablyarranged friction-rollers. However, I consider rack-bars much the preferable form in which to embody the invention in practice.

By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the blocks on the under side of the body to which the springs are bolted serve to hold the.

rack-bars from outward or lateral movement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a vehicle, the combination, with the running-gear, a body,and the springs intermediate of the body and gear, of the verticallydisposed guide-bars arranged on opposite sides of the body and passing through'the same, sub- 1stanltially as described, for the purpose set ort 1.

2. Ina vehicle, the combination with a body, the running-gear,and theintermediate springs, of the vertically-disposed guide-bars connected to the running-gear and passing through the body on opposite sides thereof, and the wheels in contact with the sides ofthe said guide-rods, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

3. In avehiele, the combination, with a. body, the running-gear, and the intermediate cushion-springs, of the vcrtically-disposed guiderods carried by the running-gear and passing through the body within the vertical sides of the same, and the wheels arranged within the body and in contact with the sides of the same, substantially as described.

4. In a vehicle, the combination, with the running-gear, a body. and the intermediate springs, of the vertical guide-bars having the raoks,and connected to the running-gear, and passing through the body on opposite sides thereof, and the toothed or gear wheels,which mesh with the racks on the said bars, substantially as described.

5. In avehicle, the combination,withabody,

the running-gear thereof, and the intermediate springs, of the vertical gnide-bars having the raeks,and pivotally connected to the run hing-gear, and passing through the body, and a shaft journaled on the body and carrying the toothed wheels which mesh with the racks on the guide-bars, whereby when the body descends under the weight of its load the guidebars will rotate the shafts and its wheels to maintain the body in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

6. The combination,with the body, springs, and running-gear of a vehicle, of a shaft carrying rigid pinions and secured to the vehiclebody,and a corresponding number of racks secured to the running-gear, substantially as set forth.

7. The combinati0n,with the body, springs, and running-gear of a vehicle, of the rack bars H, shaft F, and pinions f, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the running'gear and body of a vehicle, of guide bars mounted in the running-gear and working through the body, as set forth.

9. The combination, with the two shafts F, having two pinions, f, on each side of the wagon-bottom, of the rack-bar H, having teeth on each side and engaging with both rack-bars, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON.

\Vitnesses:

JOSEPH FLESHIEN, L. M. PACKARD. 

